Puck Daddy

Trent Campbell is the leading scorer for the ECHL South Carolina Stingrays this season, and has spent the last five seasons with the franchise. Yet he was a healthy scratch against the Florida Everblades last Friday night because, apparently, the team frowns upon its veteran players getting arrested for allegedly stealing a taxi cab.

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According to the Naples News, Collier County sheriff's deputies arrested Campbell earlier on Friday and charged him with felony auto theft. From the police report:

Campbell, 29, of Charleston, S.C., approached Checker Cab driver Timothy Davis outside of Blue Martini just after 2 a.m. Friday. Campbell asked Davis for a ride, but Davis said he had to pick up a previously scheduled fare. When Davis left his car unattended in an attempt to find the fare, according to two witnesses, Campbell got in the cab and took off.

The cab was later found abandoned and Campbell was found walking nearby; he was identified by Davis as the man who drove away with his cab. (Did Davis try to flag his own cab? And if it didn't stop, would it be more ironic than sad?)

"Trent has been accused of a serious crime and we're not going to comment on the incident until the legal process has revealed all the facts," said Stingrays head coach Spencer Carbery. "Right now, Trent has been suspended indefinitely and is back in Charleston."

His arraignment is April 16; will he get a fare trial? (Groan.)

Unrelated question: An NHL player punches a cabbie that turns out to be an ECHL player impersonating a cabbie, is that NHL player lauded as a vigilante hero, like Batman?